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Do Violent Video Games Contribute to Youth Violence?

As many as 97% of US kids age 12-17 play video games, contributing to the
$21.53 billion domestic video game industry. More than half of the 50 top-selling
video games contain violence.

Violent video games have been blamed for school shootings, increases in bullying,
and violence towards women. Critics argue that these games desensitize players
to violence, reward players for simulating violence, and teach children that violence
is an acceptable way to resolve conflicts.

Video game advocates contend that a majority of the research on the topic is
deeply flawed and that no causal relationship has been found between video
games and social violence. They argue that violent video games may provide a
safe outlet for aggressive and angry feelings and may reduce crime.
Exposure to violent video games is linked to lower empathy and decreased
kindness.
Empathy, the ability to understand and enter into another's feelings is believed to
inhibit aggressive behavior. In a study of 150 fourth and fifth graders by Jeanne
Funk, PhD, Distinguished University Professor of Psychology at the University of
Toledo, violent video games were the only type of media associated with lower
empathy. [32] A study published in the American Psychological
Association's Psychological Bulletin found that exposure to violent video games led
to a lack of empathy and prosocial behavior (positive actions that benefit
others). [66][65] Eight independent tests measuring the impact of violent video
games on prosocial behavior found a significant negative effect, leading to the
conclusion that "exposure to violent video games is negatively correlated with
helping in the real world." [61] Several studies have found that children with high
exposure to violent media display lower moral reasoning skills than their peers
without that exposure. [32][69] A meta-analysis of 130 international studies with
over 130,000 participants concluded that violent video games "increase aggressive
thoughts, angry feelings, and aggressive behaviors, and decrease empathic
feelings and prosocial behaviors." [123]
Do violent video games cause violent crime?
With millions of copies of violent games like Grand Theft Auto and Halo, should
there not be an epidemic of violence, if there is a direct causal link between
violence and video games? Are kids slowly but surely giving into the violence of the
the game and will they/we start committing violent crimes?
Fingers have also been pointed at certain genres of music and films which portray
violence in an easily accessible and 'glamorous' light.
The question is: are video games, music and films which show violent content
leading to an increase in violence and crime in the real world, especially amongst
the youth
Violent video games and young people
Experts are divided about the potential harm, but agree on some steps parents can
take to protect children.
Blood and gore. Intense violence. Strong sexual content. Use of drugs. These are
just a few of the phrases that the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)
uses to describe the content of several games in the Grand Theft Auto series, one
of the most popular video game series among teenagers. The Pew Research
Center reported in 2008 that 97% of youths ages 12 to 17 played some type of
video game, and that two-thirds of them played action and adventure games that
tend to contain violent content. (Other research suggests that boys are more likely
to use violent video games, and play them more frequently, than girls.) A separate
analysis found that more than half of all video games rated by the ESRB contained
violence, including more than 90% of those rated as appropriate for children 10
years or older.
Given how common these games are, it is small wonder that mental health
clinicians often find themselves fielding questions from parents who are worried
about the impact of violent video games on their children.
The view endorsed by organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is
that exposure to violent media (including video games) can contribute to real-life
violent behavior and harm children in other ways. But other researchers have
questioned the validity or applicability of much of the research supporting this view.
They argue that most youths are not affected by violent video games. What both
sides of this debate agree on is that it is possible for parents to take steps that limit
the possible negative effects of video games.

Key points
Much of the research on violent video game use relies on measures to assess
aggression that don't correlate with real-world violence. Some studies are
observational and don't prove cause and effect.
Federal crime statistics suggest that serious violent crimes among youths have
decreased since 1996, even as video game sales have soared.
Parents can protect children from potential harm by limiting use of video games
and taking other common-sense precautions.

One view
In its most recent policy statement on media violence, which includes discussion of
video games as well as television, movies, and music, the AAP cites studies that
link exposure to violence in the media with aggression and violent behavior in
youths. The AAP policy describes violent video games as one of many influences
on behavior, noting that many children's television shows and movies also contain
violent scenes. But the authors believe that video games are particularly harmful
because they are interactive and encourage role-playing. As such, the authors fear
that these games may serve as virtual rehearsals for actual violence.
Both the AAP and AACAP reason that children learn by observing, mimicking, and
adopting behaviors — a basic principle of social learning theory. These
organizations express concern that exposure to aggressive behavior or violence in
video games and other media may, over time, desensitize youths by numbing them
emotionally, cause nightmares and sleep problems, impair school performance,
and lead to aggressive behavior and bullying.
A 2001 report of the U.S. Surgeon General on the topic of youth violence made a
similar judgment. Some meta-analyses of the literature — reviewing psychological
research studies and large observational studies — have found an association
between violent video games and increased aggressive thinking and behavior in
youths. And some casual observers go further, assuming that tragic school
shootings prove a link between such games and real-world aggression.

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